kirksville legislator

The Kirksville City Council rejected Monday a proposed anti-discrimination ordinance that would have made discrimination based on sexual orientation illegal in employment, housing and public accommodation in Kirksville.

The ordinance, which would have also created a 9-member commission to enforce Kirksville’s human rights laws, was defeated by the council with a 3-2 vote.

A Republican member of the Missouri House announced today that he is gay during a press conference on a bill that would limit public schools from discussing sexual orientation in the classroom. Zachary Wyatt of Kirksville told reporters he has deep regrets for not taking stands earlier against school bullying, and called for lawmakers to shelve the so-called “don’t say gay” bill.

With his disclosure today, Wyatt becomes the only current openly gay Republican state legislator in the nation.

St. Louis Public Radio’s Marshall Griffin talked with Wyatt about the bill and his decision to come out.